Programme Aims and Objectives
The MSc in Business and Data Analytics (MScBDA) programme aims to cultivate students with professional knowledge of business data analytics through active learning of the theories, methods, supporting techniques across a wide range of knowledge areas such as applied statistics, big data management, data mining and social media analytics. The MScBDA programme has two streams. A student will be admitted to either the Information Analytics Management (IAM) or the Quantitative Analysis for Business (QAB) stream.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants must:
- hold a recognized Bachelor’s degree in any disciplines with the curricula covering appropriate mathematical knowledge.
Selection will be based on the candidate’s academic performance in previous studies, relevant working experience (if any), motivation and potential of the candidate and performance in the interview.
Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English should fulfil the following minimum English proficiency requirement:
- a score of 79 (for tests taken prior to 21 January 2026) or 4 (for tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards) (Internet-based Test) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)@#; or
- an overall band score of 6.0 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) @#; or
- a score 450 in the Chinese Mainland’s College English Test (CET-6); or
- other equivalent qualifications
@TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years. Applicants are required to provide their English test results obtained within the two years preceding the start of the University's application period. 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', ‘TOEFL MyBest Score’, ‘IELTS Indicator’, ‘IELTS One Skill Retake’ and ‘IELTS Online’ are not acceptable. All TOEFL results must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) using CityUHK’s institution code 3401, while IELTS results must be sent via the IELTS Results Service e-delivery to 'City University of Hong Kong - Graduate School'.
#Applicants with an IELTS overall band score of 6.0 or a TOEFL overall score of 4 will be required to pass an interview for English proficiency conducted by the concerned academic unit. Applicants with a comparable overall score of 79 or above shown on the TOEFL report may be exempt from the interview requirement. Interviews for other applicants may not be required.
Course Description
Core Courses
- Database Management Systems
- Data Visualization
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Data Mining
Information Analytics Management Stream Core
- Machine Learning and Social Media Analytics
Information Analytics Management Stream Electives
Complete 15 credits with at least 9 credits obtained from the following stream elective courses:
- Analytical Programming with Python
- Business Data Analytics
- Blockchain Technology and Business Applications
- Information Systems Project
- Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship
- Management Support and Business Intelligence Systems
- Project Management and Quality Assurance
- Generative Artificial Intelligence for Business
- Artificial Intelligence for Business Applications
- Large Language Model with Prompt Engineering for Business
- AI Ethics and Regulations
- Business Practice Internship
- Foundations of Information and Electronic Business Systems
- Information Analytics Management Project
The remaining credits can be obtained by taking postgraduate elective courses offered by any department in the College of Business.
Quantitative Analysis for Business Stream Core
- Applied Linear Statistical Models
Quantitative Analysis for Business Stream Electives
Complete 5 electives with at least 4 chosen from the following list:
- AI-Enhanced Business Analytics with Excel and Python
- Contemporary Topics in Quantitative Analysis for Business
- Decision Analytics
- Fintech and AI in Finance
- Predictive Analytics with Excel and R
- Predictive Modeling and Forecasting for Business
- Predictive Modeling in Marketing
- Project Management
- Statistical Modelling in Economics and Finance
- Statistical Modelling in Risk Management
The remaining elective is a postgraduate course offered by any department in the College of Business.
Useful Links
Department of Information Systems
Department of Decision Analytics and Operations
Remarks:
This programme, jointly offered by the Department of Decision Analytics and Operations and Department of Information Systems, is housed and coordinated by the College of Business.
This programme has two streams (student will admit to either IAM or QAB).